Superbike Newshttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress
Motorcycle racing news covering World Superbikes, British Superbikes and MotoGPMon, 19 Mar 2018 07:59:31 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-SBKNewslogo512x512-1-32x32.pngSuperbike Newshttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress
3232http://feeds.feedburner.com/superbike-news?format=skinsuperbike-newshttps://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily RotationJeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass Perfect in Valkenswaardhttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jeffrey-herlings-and-pauls-jonass-perfect-in-valkenswaard/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jeffrey-herlings-and-pauls-jonass-perfect-in-valkenswaard/#respondMon, 19 Mar 2018 07:59:31 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=47557The 2018 MXGP of Europe at the famous Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard has finished in epic fashion. The dark Dutch sand was as unforgiving as it was testing for the top MXGP and MX2 riders in the world. While the conditions were vastly different from the season opener in Patagonia Argentina the result was much the […]

]]>The 2018 MXGP of Europe at the famous Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard has finished in epic fashion. The dark Dutch sand was as unforgiving as it was testing for the top MXGP and MX2 riders in the world. While the conditions were vastly different from the season opener in Patagonia Argentina the result was much the same with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass taking the overall wins and maintaining their Red Plates.

MXGPRed Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings came to Valkenswaard with his first ever red plate in MXGP and left it with his first ever points lead in the premier class. At the start of the weekend Herlings struggled when he fell in qualifying then rejoined the race in 35th position. Luckily for the “Bullet” he turned his weekend around on Sunday. Luckily for the “Bullet” he turned his weekend around on Sunday even with 19th gate pick.

After a quick pass on Coldenhoff, Herlings switched his focus over to the Belgian, Jeremy Van Horebeek. As Herlings chased Van Horebeek, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser was passed for 5th by the other Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP bike of Romain Febvre.

Gajser then threw away his goggles and soon after came under pressure from the pair of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders, Max Anstie and Gautier Paulin. Just after Anstie and Paulin made their way past Gajser, Jeffrey Herlings moved into the second spot.

Cairoli then started to lose time to Herlings as Anstie and Paulin passed Febvre. As Jeffrey inched closer to Cairoli the Italian lost balance in a rut and went down. From there Herlings took the lead and never looked back as Cairoli took second and Van Horebeek third.

Race 2 began with another Fox Holeshot from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli as Coldenhoff and Herlings chased. Cairoli then sprinted at the start of the race to grow a gap over Coldenhoff and Herlings. Herlings found his way around Coldenhoff on lap 3 and at nearly the same time race one’s 3rd place finisher, Van Horebeek, crashed out of the race but came away uninjured.

Herlings then started his charge to catch the distant Cairoli. Cairoli’s lead was near 13 seconds but dropped lap after lap, at one point Herlings gained 4 seconds in a single lap. As Herlings came closer Cairoli sensed the #84 looking back on several occasions. When the time finally came Herlings made the pass look easy as he out braked Cairoli into the turn just after the finish line. Cairoli tried to retaliate but would cross the checkered flag 3.8 seconds after Herlings.

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser’s return to MXGP was a challenging one as he crashed twice in race 2, even so he managed to finish 9th overall.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings in the press conference said: “We can back strong and we managed to win both races today. It is a little bit of a shame from yesterday that we didn’t have such a good start position but it’s ok. I’m looking forward to Red Sand next weekend, I have been there a lot during the winter so I kind of know the track!”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli in the race press conference stated: “The weekend was good, we knew that at this race we would struggle a little bit because it has been a long time since I’ve trained in Belgium or Holland. Jeffrey was very fast and we knew that on this track he would be, but we managed to finish on the podium and a second place is good for the championship.”

Finishing on the podium was Gautier Paulin who also took third overall after tying with Coldenhoff in points while Febvre scored his 2nd top 5 of the season.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin in the press conference admitted: “We managed to have a good setup on the bike and I was really happy with the bike and I put myself in the right position. That’s the first podium of the season, we are working hard but the speed wasn’t there today so we need to continue because I want to battle with those guys.”

MX2Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass is showing everyone exactly why he was MX2 World Champion in 2017. Jonass admitted that he wasn’t riding or feeling his best but nevertheless the #1 took double race wins today.

Race 1 started with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing bikes of Pauls Jonass and Jorge Prado at the front with a Fox Holeshot from Jonass. Behind the KTM’s was another Austrian made bike, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing #19 of Thomas Kjer Olsen.

Having a breakthrough performance was Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Jago Geerts. Geerts who race the EMX250 championship last season ran 4th early in the race.

The local MX2 rider from the LRT KTM team, Davy Pootjes was followed by Honda 114 Motorsport’s Hunter Lawrence. Later when Lawrence tried to pass Pootjes on the outside he instead had the door closed and clipped the back of the KTM sending him to the dirt. Pootjes later dropped to 8th while Lawrence got back up to 6th just behind Hitachi KTM UK’s Conrad Mewse. Meanwhile Jonass took the win followed by Prado, Olsen, and Geerts.

Race 2 started just as did race one with a FOX Holeshot from Jonass just ahead of Prado and a Husqvarna. However this time the Husqvarna in 3rd belonged to the STC Racing Husqvarna rider Henri Jacobi. Jacobi ran in third for 8 laps before crashing and then pulling of the track.

Assuming third was again Olsen as Jorge Prado was doing everything he could to catch his teammate Jonass. Prado would gain time on Jonass one lap and the Jonass would reply with his own gains the next.

At the finish Jonass crossed the line only 0.38 seconds ahead of Prado while Olsen was another 37 seconds back in third.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass in the press conference said: “It is nice to go 1-1 again, today both races went perfect, I got 2 FOX Holeshots and led every single lap which is pretty nice.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado in the press conference stated: “I felt great the whole weekend since free practice so it was fun to ride. I was riding good but I just could pass him (Jonass), we were pushing hard the whole race but I’m pretty happy with the first podium.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen in the race press conference: “I’m happy to be on the podium for the second week in a row. I am really satisfied with my riding and fitness right now.”

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jeffrey-herlings-and-pauls-jonass-perfect-in-valkenswaard/feed/0Andrea Dovizioso vs Marc Marquez lights the fuse at Losailhttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/andrea-dovizioso-vs-marc-marquez-lights-the-fuse-at-losail/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/andrea-dovizioso-vs-marc-marquez-lights-the-fuse-at-losail/#respondSun, 18 Mar 2018 20:11:43 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=47550Opening the season with a sensational last lap performance, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) beat Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to the line at the Losail International Circuit by just 0.027s, lighting the fuse on 2018 from the very first race. And the ‘Doctor’ Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completed the podium, putting in another Sunday […]

]]>Opening the season with a sensational last lap performance, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) beat Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to the line at the Losail International Circuit by just 0.027s, lighting the fuse on 2018 from the very first race. And the ‘Doctor’ Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completed the podium, putting in another Sunday stunner from Row 3 of the grid.

Frenchman Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) shot off pole position to take the lead into the first corner but there was nothing to split the top ten riders in the opening laps, and it looked as if any one of them could fight for the victory throughout the 22-lap thriller. With fastest laps flying in on each lap, Zarco was still able to keep hold of the lead.
With big battles taking place behind him, the French rider kept calm at the front whilst Rossi made his way through the field to get into podium fighting positions by the third lap, hunting down his fellow Yamaha in the lead. Marquez was never far away from the fight, sitting in the top five as soon as the lights went out. As ten laps had been completed riders were getting into a rhythm, but you could sense action was on the horizon.

Silent assassin Dovizioso moved up to third position on lap 11 as he spent the start of the race working through the field, passing his countryman Rossi who slipped back to the riders fighting for fifth. A clear battled had now developed for the podium, with Dovizioso and Marquez closing in on Zarco and they were able to make their move on the 18th lap, with Zarco losing two positions into the opening corner – as Dovizisoso took the lead.

Dovizioso and Marquez then began to break away, pushing themselves to the final corner of the final lap – taking no prisoners. Reigning world champion Marquez made his move through turn 15 but he was unable to make it stick, and Dovizoso led into the final corner meaning he was able to slingshot his Desmosedici over the line, 0.027s ahead. Another last lap showdown, and another Dovizioso victory in style.

Behind the duo, Rossi fought off his rivals to secure a safe third position ahead of top independent rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), whilst Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) made some strong moves on the closing laps to complete the top five.

Comeback king Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) crossed the line in sixth after being down in 14th on the opening lap, just ahead of Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), who made his 200th start in the premier class. Early race leader Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) crossing the line in eighth after struggling more in the latter stages, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) completing the top ten.

Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) opened the season in 11th, ahead of top rookie Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) who crossed the line in the top 12, as Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) salvaged three points from a tough weekend in 13th. Making his MotoGP debut, Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) took a top 14 finish and his first points, ahead of Karel Abraham (Angel Nieto Team) who takes home the final point from Qatar in 15th.

It was a bad start to the season for Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who crashed out of the top six fight on the 13th lap at turn two, whilst Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) had a start to 2018 to forget and the Spaniard crashed out on the same lap – finding his brakes unresponsive at turn 16.

The paddock will now pack up and head to Argentina from 6th – 8th April for the second round of what is set to be a phenomenal MotoGP season – and the fuse is already lit.

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/andrea-dovizioso-vs-marc-marquez-lights-the-fuse-at-losail/feed/0Francesco Bagnaia storms to debut win in final lap Moto2 thrillerhttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/francesco-bagnaia/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/francesco-bagnaia/#respondSun, 18 Mar 2018 20:10:49 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=47549Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) took a sensational maiden victory in the Grand Prix of Qatar, beating his compatriot Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) to the line as the victory was decided on the final lap under the floodlights. The 2017 rookie of the year secured his team’s debut victory in the class and began […]

]]>Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) took a sensational maiden victory in the Grand Prix of Qatar, beating his compatriot Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40) to the line as the victory was decided on the final lap under the floodlights. The 2017 rookie of the year secured his team’s debut victory in the class and began his season in the best possible way, as Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) rounded out the podium despite some brake issues.

Getting a strong start off the line as the lights went out, Bagnaia took the lead into the first corner as pole position man Marquez had a slight moment with Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in the run up to the opening corner. But it was the Italians making a break in the opening lap, with Bagnaia and Baldassarri leading the way ahead of Marquez, who quickly recovered from the wobble.

It looked like Bagnaia would be able to escape but the two bikes behind then began to close – before Marquez fell into problems as he was close to overtaking the Pons HP40 bike for second, running off track through turn one as his rear brake disc glowed red hot under the night sky. Although then out of the fight for the win, the 2014 lightweight class Champion held onto the final podium spot, holding off Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team), who took fourth.

The duel for the win began to really light up on the final laps, and the last lap set up a classic showdown. Baldassarri made his move into the penultimate corner and briefly took the lead, but Bagnaia stole it straight back – and was able to hold his advantage on the long run to the line.

Completing the top five behind the podium trio and Pasini, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just beat teammate Brad Binder after a more difficult opening race for KTM, with Marcel Schrotter beating his teammate Xavi Vierge (Dynavolt Intact GP) by just 0.097 over the line as the Dynavolt Intact GP machines came home seventh and eighth. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46) won his battle for ninth, ahead of Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) who rounded out the top ten.

Next up was best rookie Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), who took eleventh for a solid debut as he comes back from an injury late in preseason.

Now the paddock moves west to the Americas, with Argentina first on the agenda.

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/francesco-bagnaia/feed/0Jorge Martin wins Spanish desert duel in opening Moto3™ racehttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jorge-martin-wins-spanish-desert-duel-in-opening-moto3-race/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jorge-martin-wins-spanish-desert-duel-in-opening-moto3-race/#respondSun, 18 Mar 2018 20:06:10 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=47548Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) waited a while to take his maiden win in the final race of 2017, but the Spaniard made it two in a row as he held off compatriot and expected title challenger Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) in a tense desert duel to take the first win of the […]

]]>Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) waited a while to take his maiden win in the final race of 2017, but the Spaniard made it two in a row as he held off compatriot and expected title challenger Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) in a tense desert duel to take the first win of the year. Behind the lead duo who escaped in the lead, Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) took his first ever podium as he beat off a group battling for the rostrum.

Although Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) started from pole position for the fifth time of his career and took the holeshot, it was Martin who got an early lead – pulling a gap of over half a second in the opening four laps. He wasn’t to be left alone for long, however, as the duo of Canet and Italian Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) soon caught the Spanish rider at the front.

But the three-way battle for the victory soon became a duel as Bastianini witnessed opening round heartbreak; crashing out of second position on the sixth lap and leaving Martin and Canet at the head of the field.

Martin seemed to take control of the race and secure the lead for the majority of the 18 laps, but Canet certainly hadn’t given up as he stayed on his tail until the closing laps. Coming down to the wire, Martin led over the line for the penultimate lap and began to open up a slight gap over his fellow Honda rider through the first sector. Ultimately Martin held his advantage, sealing the victory by just 0.023 ahead of Canet to take the first honours of 2018 after a drag to the line.

Third position and the final spot on the podium was a sensational battle, as five riders became nine and they began the battle under the sunny skies of Qatar in a bid to take the final trophy, swapping paint on each lap. Dalla Porta, Antonelli, Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider), Fabio di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia), Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing), John Mcphee (CIP – Green Power) and Marco Bezzecchi (PruestlGP) were locked in the fight, but McPhee fell victim to some late bad luck as he crashed out on the final lap.

As the group thundered towards the line, Dalla Porta took it by thousandths – with pole man Antonelli in fourth, ahead of Argentinean Rodrigo in fifth. And it was a stunning display from Di Giannantonio as he pushed though from 16th position on the grid to take a top six finish.

Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) took a best ever result after an equally best-ever Saturday, just ahead of an equally stunning race for Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing). Jakub Kornfeil (PruestlGP) took ninth and Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team Moto3) rounded out the top ten, with Adam Norrodin (Petronas Sprinta Racing) taking P11 ahead of Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai), who was top rookie. Reigning Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion Kazuki Masaki (RBA BOE Skull Rider) took P13, with Bezzecchi rejoining the race following a final lap crash to take 14th. Spanish rider Marcos Ramirez (Bester Capital Dubai) was the final points scorer in the first Moto3 race of the season.

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jorge-martin-wins-spanish-desert-duel-in-opening-moto3-race/feed/0Jeremy Van Horebeek and Covington Take Pole Position in Valkenswaardhttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jeremy-van-horebeek-and-covington-take-pole-position-in-valkenswaard/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jeremy-van-horebeek-and-covington-take-pole-position-in-valkenswaard/#respondSat, 17 Mar 2018 21:26:40 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=47534The first day of the MXGP of Europe has wrapped up in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands where MXGP, MX2 along with EMX300 and EMX125 both presented by FMF Racing took to the demanding Dutch Circuit. Tricky conditions combined with cool temperatures would lead to a memorable day of racing. Heating up with their first pole positions […]

]]>The first day of the MXGP of Europe has wrapped up in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands where MXGP, MX2 along with EMX300 and EMX125 both presented by FMF Racing took to the demanding Dutch Circuit. Tricky conditions combined with cool temperatures would lead to a memorable day of racing. Heating up with their first pole positions of 2018 were Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Van Horebeek and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington in MXGP and MX2 respectively.

Alongside the MXGP and MX2 stars were the first round of the European Championships of EMX125 and EMX300 both Presented by FMF Racing. The group of 300cc racers was composed of both former champions and upcoming stars. Last year’s title competitors, Brad Anderson and Mike Kras, again found themselves at the front of the field but the young Belgian Greg Smets would take the lead from Kras early on his way to his first ever European Championship Race win as Kras and Anderson took 2nd and 3rd. In EMX125 class former 85cc Junior Motocross World Champion Rene Hofer also took his first European Championship race win against a field of more than 80 riders at the start of the day including Emil Weckman and Mario Lucas Sanz in 2nd and 3rd.

Behind Herlings and Van Horebeek was last year’s MXGP of Europe overall winner, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin and 2016 MXGP World Champion, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser. Gajser who is returning from an injury suffered only one month ago showed he wasn’t phased by the pressure or the conditions.

First to press onto the back wheel of Gajser was Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Shaun Simpson, however near crash and impressive save by Simpson allowed Gajser some space to breath. Though it was not long before Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli slid past a rattled Simpson and closed on the Slovenian.

Simpson would later make a mistake which could not be saved and so too did Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MXGP’s Romain Febvre. However the most notable crash and mistake was the one of Jeffrey Herlings while leading. The #84 tucked the front wheel on the landing of a double resulting in a crash. Herlings once going again, pulled into Pit Lane convinced that he had broken his front wheel. As the mechanics of Herlings rushed to swap out the wheel Van Horebeek led.

Herlings in the press conference said: “There was something wrong, obviously I went down and came in (to Pit Lane). I thought I had a broken wheel, which it wasn’t, but it doesn’t matter, it is racing and things like that happen. I’m feeling good, I’m feeling strong so I just need 2 good starts tomorrow from that position and work from there.”

The other Dutch Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider, Glenn Coldenhoff worked his way into 5th after passing Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer. In the end Jeremy Van Horebeek took the Qualifying win ahead of Paulin, Gajser, Cairoli, and Coldenhoff while Herlings, who rejoined the race in 35th, qualified 19th.

Jeremy Van Horebeek in the press conference said: “The track suites me well, I feel good, and you know on this kind of track you just have to enjoy and ride smooth because if you ride too aggressive you won’t go fast. It was a good day, I had a good start and I think that is the key, just to start in the top three and ride your own race.”

MX2The MX2 Qualification Racing at Valkenswaard was just as demanding and surprising as that of the MXGP class. At the start of MX2 Qualifying Race Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado flew off of the grid to a substantial Holeshot.

Pursuing the #61 was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington. Covington’s struggle to feel comfortable at the opening round of the season in Patagonia Argentina and the past two weeks of training was unnoticeable in his riding today.

2017 MX2 podium finisher, Brent Van doninck who now rides for the Husqvarna 8biano Motorsports team put in a solid race for 5th place to position himself well for a repeat of last year’s performance.

Back at the front a last lap error from Prado came up costly as tried to negotiate his way past lapped riders. Prado fell which let both Covington and Jonass get by before the finish allow Covington to score his first pole position of the new season.

Covington in the press conference stated: “The start was so important today…I am proud I got a good start behind Prado and I followed him for most of the race just trying to stay with him. He (Prado) was going pretty fast at the beginning but in the end we came into some lappers and I was able to capitalize on his mistake down the hill.”

Honda 114 Motorsports’ Hunter Lawrence struggled to bring his Argentinian success into the European qualifying race as he shifted between 8th and 9th position before sneaking into 6th at the finish.

Another rider who did well in Argentina but came up short during qualifying was BIKE IT DRT Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei. Sanayei who led laps in Patagonia – Argentina will head the start in 16th tomorrow.

Sanayei in the press conference said: “After Argentina I got pretty sick, I am just kind of getting over that and thankfully I could train this week. I felt confident coming into this weekend but everything didn’t add up today.”

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/jeremy-van-horebeek-and-covington-take-pole-position-in-valkenswaard/feed/0Johann Zarco smashes the pole record in Qatarhttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/johann-zarco-smashes-the-pole-record-in-qatar/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/johann-zarco-smashes-the-pole-record-in-qatar/#respondSat, 17 Mar 2018 21:25:56 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=47533A lot has changed in the ten years since Jorge Lorenzo set the world alight on his premier class debut, but the Qatar pole lap record hadn’t. Set by the Majorcan in 2008, the Losail laptime remained steadfast in the record books for a decade and was the oldest of its kind until Saturday of […]

]]>A lot has changed in the ten years since Jorge Lorenzo set the world alight on his premier class debut, but the Qatar pole lap record hadn’t. Set by the Majorcan in 2008, the Losail laptime remained steadfast in the record books for a decade and was the oldest of its kind until Saturday of the 2018 Qatar GP and a scorcher from Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). The Frenchman, now heading into his second season, marked his return to the venue at which he first led a premier class race in serious style – uncatchable ahead of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to set a 1:53.680. So the reigning Champion starts his title defence from two tenths behind in second, and top Ducati Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) completes the front row and the trio of those who broke the record.

With strong winds throughout the day and the track temperature cooling as night fell for qualifying, the session revealed another piece in the puzzle of the first race of the year. Behind the top three, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was next up heading the second row to make it 75% Independent Team riders in the top four, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) – the man on provisional pole after the first run – taking the middle of Row 2. But Marquez says the 2017 Championship runner up has the best race pace – something that will be revealed on Sunday.

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), meanwhile, kept his great pace at Losail rolling for his best ever qualifying position to lock out the second row, after Suzuki mounted the biggest challenge to Ducati on Friday.

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) heads up an all-star Row 3 with some serious potential for fireworks, with 17 World Championships crammed into three grid places as the Spaniard heads Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi and Ducati Team’s Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo, who suffered some technical trouble in FP4, says he is out of position – and Rossi says the battle at the front could be more than ten riders. And Lorenzo, as well as being the previous pole record holder, is also the most successful rider at Losail across all classes – but Rossi beats him in the premier class with four to Lorenzo’s three wins.

Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) completed the top ten after moving through Q1, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) two tenths back in P11 to make it more than ten riders within a second of pole. Meanwhile, 2017 polesitter and winner Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) lines up in P12 – but also showed incredible consistency on a long run in FP4…

Valentino Rossi expects to fight it out for the #QatarGP with more than ten riders and Losail always serves up a desert storm. Don’t miss the 2018 season opener, with the lights going out at 19:00 local time (GMT +3) as the battle well and truly commences.

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/johann-zarco-smashes-the-pole-record-in-qatar/feed/0Alex Marquez storms to pole in the deserthttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/alex-marquez-storms-to-pole-in-the-desert/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/alex-marquez-storms-to-pole-in-the-desert/#respondSat, 17 Mar 2018 21:25:16 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=47532It’s been a faultless weekend so far for Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) at the Qatar GP and that continued in qualifying, with the Spaniard setting an unbeatable time that took him to the top of the order midway through the session to stake an early claim on the first win of the year. […]

]]>It’s been a faultless weekend so far for Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) at the Qatar GP and that continued in qualifying, with the Spaniard setting an unbeatable time that took him to the top of the order midway through the session to stake an early claim on the first win of the year. He will be joined on the front row by a resurgent Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP40), with his countryman Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) completing the front row – just over half-a-second adrift of pole.

Qualifying for the intermediate class was a drama-filled affair as ever, as the floodlights came on and the temperature dropped, creating perfect conditions in the battle for the top spot on the grid.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Miguel Oliveira is in good shape at a circuit where he battled for the podium last year and lines up heading the second row. He’s joined by rookie sensation Romano Fenati (Marinelli Snipers Team) who has shown incredible form on his first weekend, with returning 2015 lightweight class Champion Danny Kent (Beta Tools – Speed Up Racing) taking sixth and equally impressing.

We’re ready to go racing on Sunday in Moto2 and with 12 riders within a second of each other, it’s set to be very close. Watch the title contenders and key players kick off their campaigns on Sunday from 17:20 local time (GMT +3).

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/alex-marquez-storms-to-pole-in-the-desert/feed/0Niccolo Antonelli snatches pole in QatarGP qualifyinghttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/niccolo-antonelli-snatches-pole-in-qatargp-qualifying/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/niccolo-antonelli-snatches-pole-in-qatargp-qualifying/#respondSat, 17 Mar 2018 21:14:36 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=475312016 Qatar GP winner Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) has taken pole for the first race of the 2018 season, setting a 2:06.364 after the chequered flag to take his first pole in two years to mark the first time ever that Paolo Simoncelli’s team will head the grid in Moto3™. But just 0.001 adrift […]

]]>2016 Qatar GP winner Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) has taken pole for the first race of the 2018 season, setting a 2:06.364 after the chequered flag to take his first pole in two years to mark the first time ever that Paolo Simoncelli’s team will head the grid in Moto3. But just 0.001 adrift of Antonelli was 2017 qualifying superstar Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) – who took pole for half of the races last year – with Argentine Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider), completing the front row of the grid.

2017 Rookie of the Year Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) kicked off his season in style by heading the second row, with Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) putting in a stunner to make it two Japanese riders inside the top five. Marco Bezzechi (Redox PruestelGP) is looking very at home on his KTM too, lining up on the outside of the second row.

Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) is the top rookie and lines up 13th, whilst all eyes were on the other Spanish newcomer Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) after he suffered the only crash midway through the session at Turn 9 – rider OK.

The stage is set for the opening Moto3 race of the season on Sunday and it kicks off at 16.00 local time (GMT+3).

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/niccolo-antonelli-snatches-pole-in-qatargp-qualifying/feed/0Andrea Dovizioso edges Petrucci and Rinshttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/andrea-dovizioso-edges-petrucci-and-rins/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/andrea-dovizioso-edges-petrucci-and-rins/#respondFri, 16 Mar 2018 21:29:32 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=47526Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) started his Grand Prix of Qatar in the best possible way as the Italian ended Friday at the top of the timing screens, stunning his rivals with a lap time of 1.54.361 to put him just 0.006s ahead. It was the perfect test for race pace in the second session of […]

]]>Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) started his Grand Prix of Qatar in the best possible way as the Italian ended Friday at the top of the timing screens, stunning his rivals with a lap time of 1.54.361 to put him just 0.006s ahead. It was the perfect test for race pace in the second session of 2018 for MotoGP, as bikes take to the track at the same time as the lights will go out for the race to put track conditions to the most realistic test.

Fellow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) completed the day as top independent rider in second position, as he set his time with three minutes remaining and only beaten by his compatriot. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) broke the Ducati dominance in P3, sitting 0.097s behind Dovizioso after a strong session and leading the way in the final ten minutes. Rins was also the first rider to break into the 1:54 bracket.

The most successful rider at the venue, Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team), secured fourth position overall around Losail, and his time of 1.54.831 was set following a busy start to his session as his Ducati caused sparks to fly on the home straight. Italian Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) wasn’t far behind his teammate Rins in fifth with a lap of 1.54.841, with reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) ending the day in sixth position just 0.001 ahead of his teammate Dani Pedrosa.

Honda’s Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) sits in eighth as the second of the Independent team runners to go just ahead of ninth placed Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), who was unable to blast in a fast lap at the end of the session. Frenchman and 2017 Rookie of the Year Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) rounds out the top ten on Friday in Qatar, with just half a second splitting the men provisionally into Q2 on Saturday. As yet, 2017 Qatar GP winner Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) is in eleventh on the combined timesheets.

The fastest rookie was Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), with the Japanese rider taking back that honour after impressing in testing but getting edged out in the #QatarTest.

Don’t miss a minute of the #QatarGP as the Championship builds up to the much-anticipated first race of the 2018 season. FP3 kicks off at 12.40 local time (GMT +3) ahead of the fight for pole at 19:20, with the lights going out for the race on Sunday at 19:00.

]]>http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/andrea-dovizioso-edges-petrucci-and-rins/feed/0Alex Marquez quickest under the lights in Losailhttp://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/alex-marquez-quickest-under-the-lights-in-losail/
http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/alex-marquez-quickest-under-the-lights-in-losail/#respondFri, 16 Mar 2018 21:27:35 +0000http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/?p=475242014 Moto3™ Champion Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) started his season in perfect form by ending Day 1 in Qatar on top of the timesheets, just 0.038 in front of the returning Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) and 0.053 ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46), with all three gunning for the title […]

]]>2014 Moto3 Champion Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) started his season in perfect form by ending Day 1 in Qatar on top of the timesheets, just 0.038 in front of the returning Sam Lowes (Swiss Innovative Investors) and 0.053 ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46), with all three gunning for the title this year. That made it Kalex-KTM-Kalex, with the battle hotting up already.

Following a more difficult campaign last season for Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) – including mid-season injury – 2018 has started far better for the German as he concluded the day fourth quickest, with the fastest man in Free Practice 1, Lorenzo Baldassari (Pons HP40), close behind to complete the top five.